Conveyer



J. E. MCBRIDE.

CONVEYER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 141M919.

1,418,590; a 11 dJune6,1922,

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

' awe/who: fidde f. .470 Enid/e l. E. McBRIDE. CONVEYER. APPLlCATlON FILED JULY 14, I919.

Patented June 6, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

- type UNITED" STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Jnssn E. McBRIDE, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR To PALMER-BEE oomrANY, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION or MICHIGAN.

ooNvnY R.

. Application filed July 14,

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JESSE MoBRmE, a citizen of the United'States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Conveyer, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings. v

The invention relates to conveyers of that designed for the transportation of a suspended load and the invention consists in various features of improvement as hereinafter set forth. I

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation showing a portion of the conveyer and one of the sprockets around which it passes;

Figure 2 is a plan view of one of the links showing the load-supporting roller and the connection with the cross bar for suspending the load.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a cross-section on line 44 of Figure 2.

WVith the type of conveyer which myimprovement provides the load is supported upon crossebars extending between a pair of parallel conveyer chains. It is desirable to provide roller supports for the load and heretofore various constructions have been devised with this in view. In one construction a supporting track is arranged outside of the line of the chain and the cross-bars are extended over the track and supported by roller bearings. This has the disadvantage of increasing the width of the structure over that required for the transportation of the work. In another construction the roller or wheel supports are arranged concentric with the pivots for adjoining links of the chain, the supporting track being in the plane of the chain. The objection to such a construction is, that the driving sprocket for the chain must engage the latter through the medium of the rolls. Therefore, it is necessary to design such rolls to carry the maximum'stress upon the chain, which is many times greater than the load which. is supported by each individual cross-bar.

Another difliculty which has been encountered is the use ofroller bearings so as to maintain the same lubricated and to avoid the dropping of dirt or dust from the bearings upon the work transported. This 13 Specification of Letterslatent.

' Patented June 6, 1922.

1919. Serial No. 310,832.

particularly objectionable in conveyers used in connection with enameling ovens inasmuchas the enamel finish is injured by the slightest-deposit of dust or dirt while the enamel is still soft.

any dirt or dust which might injure the work. Other features of improvement will be referred to hereinafter.

As shown in detail in Figures 2, 3 and 4,

the conveyer chain comprises alternate links A and B which are pivotally connected to each other by the pins C. The link B is preferably formed of a pair of straight bars which embrace the end portions D of the link A, said end portions constituting hollow ins or bearings for receiving the pivot pin The link A intermediate the end portions D is provided with laterally ofi'set side bars substantially aligned with the side bars ofthe link B and providing between them the clearance for a roller E. This roller is adapted to run upon a track F and provided with a flange G at its outer end for holding it in engagement with the track. The inner side bar of the link A is formed with a laterally extending bearing H provided with a cap I secured by clamping bolts J and this bearing is adapted to receive the cross bar will operate satisfactorily without lubricant.

The bearing is held from endwise displacement by the side bars of the link A and the parts are assembled by inserting the pin M through the registering apertures in the side bars and the bearing. The pin is then looked from endwise displacement preferably by a flange N on the cap member I which engages a slot 0 in the pin. Thls also serves to holdthe pin from rotation.

Thelink A is strengthened by cross Webs l merging into the end portions D and into the side bars at the bends thereof. These webs form cross struts which resist any tendency towards pulling ot' the offset sides inward under the longitudinal stress upon the chain. In passing about the sprocket Q the sprocket teeth engage only the spaces in the links B but bear against the ends D of the links A to which the driving stressls directly applied. Thus, the rollers E are not subjected to the longitudinal stress upon the chain and can be made of only sufficient strength to safely carry the load upon the cross bars K. The sprocket Q is cut away at R to provide clearance for the rolls E.

Vith the construction as described in operationwhen the chain is traveling over the tracks F, the load which is carried by the cross bars K, as well as the weight of the chain itself, is supported by the tracks through the medium of the rollers E and resilient roller bearings L. ()n the other hand, the longitudinal stress upon the chain, which is usually many times greater than the load upon any individual link. is transmitted from link to link through the pin C and cooperating bearings, these being properly designed to safely carry the stress. The roller bearings L reduce frictional resistance to a minimum while the absence of lubricant avoids the dropping of dirt from the bearings upon the transported work.

\Vhat I claim as my invention is:

1. In a conveyer, the combination of a series of pivotally connected links. one of said links having spaced side bars intermediate the pivots thereof with one side bar provided with a laterally offset portion intermediate its ends. and a load-supporting roller mounted between said spaced side bars and at the side of said laterally offset portion.

2. In a conveyer, the combination of a .series of pivotally connected links. one of said links having a load-supporting roller mounted thereon intermediate the pivots thereof, and a sprocket for driving said links cut away in registration with said loadgupporting roll to provide clearance there- 3. In a conveyer, a chain comprising a series of pivotally connected links, spaced links thereof being provided with spaced side bars having laterally offset portions, and load supporting rollers mounted between the laterally offset portions of said spaced side bars.

4. In a conveyer, a link having end portions pivotally connected with adjacent links, spaced side bars intermediate and integral with said end portions, one of said side bars having a laterally offset portion, and a load-supporting roller mounted between said spaced side bars and located at said laterally offset portion.

5. In a conveyer, a link having end portions formed with hollow bearings for receiving the pivots connecting said link to adjacent links, spaced side bars between said end portions laterally offset, and a load-supporting roller mounted between the offset portions of said spaced side bars.

6. In a conveyer, a link having end por tions for pivotal connection with adjacent links, spaced side bars intermediate said end portions, one of said side bars having a laterally offset portion, a load-supporting roller mounted intermediate said spaced side bars at the side of said laterally offset portion, and a laterally-extending portion on one of said side bars for receiving the load.

7. In a conveyer, a link having end portions for pivotal connection with adjacent links, intermediate spaced side bars laterally offset, reinforcing struts intermediate the side bars at the'offset portions thereof, and a load-supporting roller mounted between said spaced side bars.

8. In a conveyer, a link having end portions forming hollow bearings for receiving the pivot pins attaching the same to adjacent links, laterally offset spaced side bars intermediate said end portions. reinforcing webs or struts intermediate said spaced side bars at. the offsets therein, and a load-supporting roller mounted between said offset side bars. 9. In a conveyer, the combination with a series of pivotally connected links, of a. load-supportingroller mounted on one of said links intermediate the pivots thereof, and a non-lubricated anti-friction journal bearing for said roller.

10. In a conveyer, the combination with a series of pivotally connected links, of a load-supporting roller for one of said links, and a roller journal bearing for said loadsupporting roller operable without lubricant.

11. In a conveyer, the combination with a series of pivotally connected links, of a load-supporting roller for a link intermediate the pivots thereof arranged between spaced side bars of said link. a roller journal bearing for said load-supporting roller, and a pin extending between said saaced side bars and clamped thereto, sai in forming the stationary race for said roiler journal bearing.

12. In a conveyer, a link having end portions for pivotal connection with adjacent links, spaced side bars intermediate said end portions, a load-supporting roller arranged between said spaced side bars, a roller journal bearing for said load-supporting roller intermediate the link pivots and retained from endwise displacement by said spaced side bars, and a pin endwise insertable through aligned apertures in said spaced side bars and roller journal bearing, constituting the stationary race with the latter.

13. In a conveyer, a link comprising end portions for pivotal connection with adjacent links, spaced side bars intermediate said end portions, a lug or bracket on one of said side bars forming a half-bearing for receiving a load-carrying bar, a cooperating bearing secured to said half-bearing to clamp said load-carrying bar, a load-carrying roller arranged between the spaced side bars of said link, and a pin insertable through aligned apertures in said side bars engaged by said cooperating bearing and held thereby from endwise displacement.

14. In a conveyer, a link provided with end "portions for pivotal connection with adjacent links, spaced side bars intermediate said end portions, a lug or bracket projecting laterally from one of said side bars constituting a seat or hearing for a loadcarrying bar, a load-carrying roller arranged intermediate said spaced side bars,

\ a pininsertable through aligned apertures 15. In a conveyer, a link comprising in-' tegral hollow end portions for pivotal attachment to adjacent links and intermediate spaced lateral offset side bars, a lug or bracket projecting laterally from one of said side bars, and forming a seat or hearing for a load carrying bar, a load-carrying roller arranged between said spaced side bars, an

-bar also engaging said pin to lock the same from endwise displacement.

16. In a conveyer, a chain comprising alternate links, one of said links having offset hollow end portions for receiving the pivots connecting the same to the alternate links and also having spaced side bars intermediate said end portions, a load-supporting roller mounted intermediate said spaced side bars, and a sprocket for driving said chain having teeth for engaging alternate links only and cut away to provide clearance for said load-supporting rollers.

17. In a conveyer, a link provided with end portions for pivotal connection with adjacent links, spaced side bars intermediate said end portions, a lug or bracket projecting laterally from one of said side bars and constituting a seat or hearing for a loadcarrying bar, a load carrying roller arranged intermediate said side bars, a pin insertable through aligned apertures in said side bars forming the journal for said roller, and a member for securing said load-carrying bar to said lug or bracket and for securing said pin from endwise movement.

18. In a conveyer, the combination with a series of pivotally connected links, of a load supporting roller centrally aligned with said links' and mounted upon one of the links intermediate the pivots thereof, and a sprocket for driving said links cut away in registration with said load supporting roller to provide clearance therefor.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JESSE E. MCBRIDE. 

